Cultivation and Management Methods and Key Points for Pest and Disease Control of Potted Goldfish Plants
How do you grow goldfish plants? The goldfish plant is a flower with a unique shape and a lot of character. Today the Hui Nong Wang editor will explain the cultivation methods and pest and disease management of potted goldfish plants.
1 Botanical Characteristics
The stems of the goldfish plant are climbing and trailing, with slender branches that hang down and are densely covered with brown down; the internodes are relatively short, bearing roots and opposite small leaves that are elliptical, fleshy-leathery, neatly and compactly arranged, 1.5-2 cm long, with dark green and glossy upper leaf surfaces and reddish-brown centers on the undersides. The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils, with a peculiar flower shape; the flower is gamopetalous and tubular, relatively large, with deeply lobed tips, the upper lip 4-lobed and the lower lip curved downward, much like a goldfish, orange-yellow, with yellow spots in the throat. The flowering period runs from winter to the following spring, and under suitable conditions it often blooms.
2 Biological Characteristics
The goldfish plant is native to the tropical forests of the Americas, where it grows attached to tree trunks and rocks in the forest. It likes a warm and humid environment. It likes sunlight; insufficient sunlight easily causes the leaves to become thin, the petioles to become slender, and flowering to be difficult. It is drought-tolerant and not tolerant of waterlogging; it grows best in loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
3 Propagation
The goldfish plant can be propagated by sowing, division, and cuttings. Because seeds are not easy to obtain, sowing is mostly not used, and cutting propagation is generally common. In spring and autumn, cut branches about 10 cm long (with 3-4 nodes) and insert them into a cutting bed made of river sand or vermiculite, maintaining relatively high humidity. At a temperature of 20-25°C, roots can form in about 1 month; after rooting and surviving, strengthen management to promote the growth of new branches, and pinch the tips to encourage branching. After 1-2 months, they can be potted.
4 Cultivation and Management
4.1 Soil
For cultivating the goldfish plant, the potting soil should preferably be a loose, fertile, well-drained and well-aerated sandy loam rich in organic matter. It is best to plant it in peat soil or leaf mold, or use a mixed soil of perlite and peat soil in different proportions, making it slightly acidic to favor growth.
4.2 Water
The goldfish plant is a succulent plant, so watering must be moderate, and it is better to give too little than too much. It does not like being especially dry or overly wet. Generally, after planting, water once thoroughly, and afterward water according to dry and wet conditions. In spring and autumn, water once every 2 weeks, and in summer, water once every 4-5 days. In hot weather, a small sprayer can be used to mist the leaf surfaces regularly to increase air humidity. During the plum rain season and in winter, keep it in a slightly dry state. If during growth the leaf surfaces lose their luster and a large number of leaves fall off, this may be caused by rotting fibrous roots due to overwatering; at this time, the root ball must be taken out of the pot, the rotten fibrous roots cut off, and the potting soil mixed with drier soil before replanting.
4.3 Light
The goldfish plant likes light. In spring and autumn, it can receive full sunlight, while in summer it requires a shade shed to be built, or it should be placed on a north-facing windowsill, and at least direct sunlight for several hours around noon should be avoided. Therefore, when grown at home, it should be placed in a brighter spot indoors or on a balcony, otherwise leaf drop is likely. Regularly receiving sunlight outdoors can promote more flowering.
4.4 Temperature
The suitable growth temperature for the goldfish plant is 16-26°C, and temperatures that are too high or too low will both affect growth. In the warm spring and autumn seasons, the branches can continuously send out new shoots and grow new leaves; when the summer temperature exceeds 30°C, growth stagnation occurs, so watering should be controlled and the plant placed in a cool, ventilated spot; when the winter temperature is below 10°C, it enters dormancy and should be moved indoors to overwinter, and the overwintering room temperature must not be lower than 5°C, otherwise it is prone to frost damage.
4.5 Fertilization
The fertilizer demand of the goldfish plant depends on the plant's growth condition. Usually, when transplanting small seedlings, add 20-30 slow-release organic compound fertilizer granules at 1/3 of the potting soil, and later bury an additional application of organic fertilizer when repotting. Apply dilute cake fertilizer water 1-2 times per month, and before and during flowering, additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizer is needed, which can promote more flowering. When the plant stops growing in summer and after dormancy in winter, fertilization should be stopped to avoid fertilizer damage.
4.6 Pest and Disease Control
The goldfish plant has relatively few insect pests. In overly wet places and places with poor conditions, in winter some overwintering small flying insects may overwinter on the branches, but this will not affect the plant's growth; in summer, larvae of the tobacco cutworm sometimes gnaw the leaves on the branches, and the gnawed leaves appear net-like or only the veins remain. At this time, 800 times diluted Lorsban solution can be sprayed on the plant 2-3 times; when spraying, be sure to be careful and thorough, and manual capture can also be combined with it.
The diseases of the goldfish plant are mainly fungal diseases. In the early stage of onset, the leaves curl and wrinkle and become water-soaked, followed by yellow-brown patches. At this time, 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 600 times dilution or a mixture of 27% high lipid film and 10% salicylic acid at 1000 times dilution can be sprayed on the leaf surfaces 2-3 times for control, with relatively good results. While using chemical control, management should be strengthened, ventilation and air permeability increased, and diseased and residual branches should be removed promptly to reduce sources of infection.
Flower farmers who want to grow goldfish plants can come to Hui Nong Wang to learn more about goldfish plant cultivation techniques; more exciting content is all here at Hui Nong Wang.
Cultivation and Management of Potted Kangaroo Paw (Photo)
Kangaroo paw, also known as goldfish plant and pufferfish flower, is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Nematanthus in the family Gesneriaceae. The stems and branches are reddish-brown, growing with a downward curve, and the plant height is 20-30 cm. The leaves are opposite, elliptical, fleshy-leathery, neatly and compactly arranged, 1.5-2 cm long, with dark green and glossy upper leaf surfaces and reddish-brown centers on the undersides; the flowers are solitary in the leaf axils, with a peculiar flower shape, swollen in the middle and narrowed and pointed at both ends, resembling a kangaroo, hence the name kangaroo paw. The flowers are orange-yellow, with the tips of the sepals orange-red, the flowers relatively small, and the texture like plastic. Used to decorate balconies or placed indoors for foliage and flowers, the effect is very ideal.Biological Characteristics
Kangaroo paw is native to Brazil in South America. It likes a warm environment with ample sunlight; insufficient sunlight easily causes the leaves to become thin, the petioles to become slender, and flowering to be difficult. It is drought-tolerant and not tolerant of waterlogging, and grows best in loose, fertile, well-drained soil. It flowers most in winter and spring, but under suitable conditions it can bloom frequently.
Cultivation and Management
Soil Soil is the foundation of plant growth and also the warm bed of the root system; its quality directly affects the plant's growth. The potting soil for cultivating kangaroo paw should preferably be a loose, fertile, well-drained and well-aerated sandy loam rich in organic matter. It is best to plant it in peat soil or leaf mold, or use a mixed soil of perlite and peat soil in different proportions, with broken tiles placed at the bottom of the pot to form a drainage layer to facilitate drainage.
Water Kangaroo paw is a succulent plant, so watering must be moderate, and it is better to give too little than too much. Because it does not like being especially dry or overly wet, generally after planting, water once thoroughly, and afterward water once every 2 weeks according to the soil's dryness, or once every 4-5 days in summer. In hot seasons when the air is relatively dry, a small sprayer can be used to mist the leaf surfaces regularly to increase air humidity. During the plum rain season and in winter, be careful to keep it in a slightly dry state. If during growth the leaf surfaces lose their luster and a large number of leaves fall off, this may be caused by rotting fibrous roots due to overwatering; at this time, the root ball must be taken out of the pot, the rotten fibrous roots cut off, and the potting soil mixed with drier soil before replanting.
Light Kangaroo paw likes bright light. In spring and autumn, it can receive full sunlight, while in summer it requires a shade shed to be built, or it should be placed on a north-facing windowsill, and at least direct sunlight for several hours around noon should be avoided. Long-term exposure to 50%-60% sunlight gives the best growth. Therefore, when grown at home, it should not be placed in a darker living room but should be placed on a balcony with stronger light, otherwise leaf drop is likely. Regularly receiving sunlight outdoors can promote more flowering.
Temperature Kangaroo paw likes coolness, and the suitable growth temperature is 20°C-25°C. Temperatures that are too high or too low will both affect its growth. In the warm spring and autumn seasons, the branches can continuously send out new shoots and grow new leaves; when the temperature exceeds 30°C, growth stagnation occurs, so in summer when it is below 10°C it enters dormancy and should be moved indoors to overwinter, and the overwintering room temperature must not be lower than 5°C, otherwise it is prone to frost damage.
Fertilization The fertilizer demand of kangaroo paw depends on the plant's growth condition. Usually, when transplanting small seedlings, add 20-30 slow-release organic compound fertilizer granules at 1/3 of the potting soil, and later bury an additional application of organic fertilizer when repotting. Apply dilute cake fertilizer water or phosphorus and potassium fertilizer sparingly each season, which can promote more flowering. When the plant stops growing in summer and after dormancy in winter, fertilization should be stopped to avoid fertilizer damage to the roots.
Pest and Disease Control
Insect Pests Kangaroo paw has relatively few insect pests. In overly wet places and places with poor conditions, in winter some overwintering small flying insects may overwinter on the branches, but this will not affect the plant's growth; in summer, larvae of the tobacco cutworm sometimes gnaw the leaf flesh and leaves on the branches, and the gnawed leaves appear net-like or only the veins remain. At this time, 800 times diluted Lorsban solution can be sprayed on the plant and soil 2-3 times; when spraying, be sure to be careful and thorough, and manual capture can also be combined with it. After the pests are eliminated, carry out normal care.
Diseases The diseases of kangaroo paw are mainly fungal diseases. In the early stage of onset, the leaves curl and wrinkle and become water-soaked, followed by yellow-brown patches. At this time, 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 600 times dilution or a mixture of 27% high lipid film and 10% salicylic acid at 1000 times dilution can be sprayed on the leaf surfaces 2-3 times for control, with relatively good results. While using chemical control, management should be strengthened, ventilation and air permeability increased, and diseased and residual branches should be removed promptly to reduce sources of infection.